I, too, hope I am not too late for the roll call. So far, researching my Irish side of the family has been very frustrating. My great grandfather was Thomas Hally (changed in the US to Holly/Hawley) who was born in Co. Waterford around 1842, we think. As far as we know, his father was also named Thomas and mother Margaret McGrath. In Springfield, IL on July 4, 1857, the younger Thomas married Ann Foley, B 1842, who was from Dungarvan, Waterford. So far, I have not been able to find a definite town of origin or ship records. Thomas Hally and Margaret McGrath's other children (that we know of) were: Michael (b-1845) who settled in the upper peninsula of Michigan Bridget (b-1850?) who married Maurice Murray in Springfield Jeremiah (b-22 OCT 1852) Patrick David A couple of years ago, I contacted two separate groups in Ireland to have some research done. One came up with a possible place of origin as Ballybricken. The other researchers found some possible records in Newcastle parish. The latter said they couldn't locate a place of residence but that there was a holding in the name of Thomas Hally in the townland of Aughavanlomaun. They found baptisms for a Michael, Patrick and David and also listed a child Norry, but did not find baptism records for Jeremiah or my ggrandfather Thomas. >From Griffiths, I do know that there were Hallys around Ring. At this point, though, I am totally at a loss of how to proceed. Most of my research thus far has been in Germany where the records are much more intact. Any help is greatly appreciated. Denise Eilers Davenport, IA